Same Name authentication??

[floridadave 195]

Well, my wife hit me with a new one today.  She requires a so called "same name authentication" which is basically a letter stating her name in Chinese script is equivalent to her English name or vice versa.  She wants to use the authentication to use in dealing with the Chinese government for personal business.

 

Does anyone have any experience with this?  Does her letter have to be notarized, or translated and by whom?  Have to admit, I am lost on this topic. 

 

Please help if you can. 

 

Below is the letter she wants "authenticated."

 

Edited March 28, 2018 by floridadave

[RandyW 149]

What she's doing is unclear, but my guess is that she needs a U.S. "same name authentication". Most name changes are common law, so you may need to talk to a lawyer in your state about certifying the "name change".

If it's simply Chinese vs. Pinyin forms of the same name, perhaps her Gong Cheng Chu in China can help her.

 

ANY US document for use in China requires as a minimum, a certified translation into Chinese, but may also require notarization by a U.S. notary in the appropriate jurisdiction, that notarization certified by the State's Secretary of State, and THAT certification certified by the Chinese consulate with jurisdiction over that state.

 

Authentication Procedures

 

Quote

 

Authentication

In accordance with international practice and consular practice in China, the purpose of consular authentication is to ensure that notarial deeds issued in one country can be acknowledged by relevant authorities in another country, and the deeds can have its due legal effect, which shall not be affected by doubts on the authenticity of the seal or signature on the deeds.

The Chinese Embassy in the United States can authenticate notarial deeds and other documents issued by relevant authorities of the United States for use in China. The deeds or documents should be certified by the Authentication Office of the U.S. Department of State first.

 

 

 

 

 

I WOULD suggest that she simply get an "also known as" addendum to her Chinese passport, but she will most likely lose that as soon as they discover that she holds dual citizenship (not allowed under Chinese law).

 

She will probably need a Chinese visa in her American passport - the consulate will then void her Chinese passport.

 

[floridadave 195]

30 minutes ago, RandyW said:

What she's doing is unclear, but my guess is that she needs a U.S. "same name authentication". Most name changes are common law, so you may need to talk to a lawyer in your state about certifying the "name change".

If it's simply Chinese vs. Pinyin forms of the same name, perhaps her Gong Cheng Chu in China can help her.

 

ANY US document for use in China requires as a minimum, a certified translation into Chinese, but may also require notarization by a U.S. notary in the appropriate jurisdiction, that notarization certified by the State's Secretary of State, and THAT certification certified by the Chinese consulate with jurisdiction over that state.

 

Authentication Procedures

 

 

 

 

 

I WOULD suggest that she simply get an "also known as" addendum to her Chinese passport, but she will most likely lose that as soon as they discover that she holds dual citizenship (not allowed under Chinese law).

 

She will probably need a Chinese visa in her American passport - the consulate will then void her Chinese passport.

 

I believe name form is what she is after.  She wants to show that her name in English letters is the same as her name using Chinese script.    Basically it's:  This Chinese name = this English name.  I think it is supposed to make it easier for a Chinese government office to issue a document with her English name on it. 

 

Thanks for the link.

30 minutes ago, RandyW said:

What she's doing is unclear, but my guess is that she needs a U.S. "same name authentication". Most name changes are common law, so you may need to talk to a lawyer in your state about certifying the "name change".

If it's simply Chinese vs. Pinyin forms of the same name, perhaps her Gong Cheng Chu in China can help her.

 

ANY US document for use in China requires as a minimum, a certified translation into Chinese, but may also require notarization by a U.S. notary in the appropriate jurisdiction, that notarization certified by the State's Secretary of State, and THAT certification certified by the Chinese consulate with jurisdiction over that state.

 

Authentication Procedures

 

 

 

 

 

I WOULD suggest that she simply get an "also known as" addendum to her Chinese passport, but she will most likely lose that as soon as they discover that she holds dual citizenship (not allowed under Chinese law).

 

She will probably need a Chinese visa in her American passport - the consulate will then void her Chinese passport.

 

I believe name form is what she is after.  She wants to show that her name in English letters is the same as her name using Chinese script.    Basically it's:  This Chinese name = this English name.  I think it is supposed to make it easier for a Chinese government office to issue a document with her English name on it. 

 

Thanks for the link.

[RandyW 149]

If her "English" name is different from her Chinese name, you may need to go through the certification process.

 

But if her "english" name is simply the Pinyin spelling of her Chinese name, her Gong Zheng Zhu or the Chinese consulate may be able to certify the spelling.

 

For example, the capitol of China is 北京 or  Beijing (Pinyin) or North Capitol (English translation).

[floridadave 195]

47 minutes ago, RandyW said:

If her "English" name is different from her Chinese name, you may need to go through the certification process.

 

But if her "english" name is simply the Pinyin spelling of her Chinese name, her Gong Zheng Zhu or the Chinese consulate may be able to certify the spelling.

 

For example, the capitol of China is 北京 or  Beijing (Pinyin) or North Capitol (English translation).

Yes, she says her name as it appears on her/our documents, passport, driver license etc. and as she now signs her name, is Pinyin spelling.  So yes, she wants to state and certify that her Chinese name in Chinese is equivalent to the Pinyin spelling. 

 

I'm thinking a simple letter, locally notarized, then the notary seal itself certified by Florida Sec. of State is then sent to the Chinese consulate in Houston (they cover Florida) for the Chinese authentication. 

 

I've Googled this type of document and can fined absolutely no example letters, no personal experiences, nothing.  Your link to the Chinese embassy is helpful though as it's a start.  And I still need to figure out where in the process a Chinese translation is done.  Whew.

[floridadave 195]

Just an after thought to my post above, on the Chinese translation of this authenticated letter, I am now thinking that maybe the Chinese consulate does the "authentication" in Chinese anyway, so perhaps no translation of our notarized letter has to be done on my part.

[RandyW 149]

1 hour ago, floridadave said:

Just an after thought to my post above, on the Chinese translation of this authenticated letter, I am now thinking that maybe the Chinese consulate does the "authentication" in Chinese anyway, so perhaps no translation of our notarized letter has to be done on my part.

 

 

No - the consulate does not translate the document as part of the process. You will need to get that done separately so anyone who needs it will be able to read it.

 

Our authenticated marriage certificate is labeled as a "marriage certificate", but nothing else is translated to Chinese.

 

I checked my wife's documentation - the Pinyin spelling is on her travel document (for Macau and Hong Kong),  in the white books, AND on her Chinese passport. It is NOT on her Chinese ID, or hukou book.

 

If her passport is voided, it may not work for that purpose anymore.

 

I don't see why you wouldn't do this at the Gong Zheng Zhu (Chinese notarial offices) - seems like that is exactly what you need. They KNOW what it is.

[floridadave 195]

1 hour ago, RandyW said:

 

 

No - the consulate does not translate the document as part of the process. You will need to get that done separately so anyone who needs it will be able to read it.

 

Our authenticated marriage certificate is labeled as a "marriage certificate", but nothing else is translated to Chinese.

 

I checked my wife's documentation - the Pinyin spelling is on her travel document (for Macau and Hong Kong),  in the white books, AND on her Chinese passport. It is NOT on her Chinese ID, or hukou book.

 

If her passport is voided, it may not work for that purpose anymore.

 

I don't see why you wouldn't do this at the Gong Zheng Zhu (Chinese notarial offices) - seems like that is exactly what you need. They KNOW what it is.

Okay, I'll pass this on the the wife.  When she got her Chinese visa in her U.S. passport they did cancel her Chinese passport by stamping it with a huge "Cancelled" and snipping off the corners of the first few pages.